Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew Elisheva, usually translated as "my God is an oath," and it has been a mainstay of English-speaking families for centuries. A name that common, carried by that many people at once, needs ways to tell its bearers apart, and Elizabeth answered with dozens of nicknames. Some are simple clips of one part of the name: Eliza from the front, Liz from the middle, Beth from the end. Others grew out of those clips by adding a friendly ending, which is how Bet turned into Betty and Betsy, and Bess into Bessie.
Famous Elizabeths kept the nicknames in circulation. Elizabeth I was remembered as "Good Queen Bess." Elizabeth II was Lilibet to her family, a name that came from her own toddler attempt at saying Elizabeth. The flag maker Betsy Ross was born Elizabeth Griscom, and Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet is Lizzy to her family in Pride and Prejudice.
The lists below are grouped by where each nickname comes from, so you can choose the feel you're after: crisp and modern, soft and old-fashioned, or borrowed from another language. Elizabeth is already typed into the Nickname Generator above, which adds a few newer, sound-based nicknames after the traditional ones.
Clipped from the middle: Liz, Eliza and Beth
The most familiar nicknames keep one piece of the name and drop the rest.
- LizThe middle syllable on its own. Short, direct and grown-up.
- LizzieLiz with a friendly -ie ending. Warmer and a little playful.
- LizzyAnother spelling of Lizzie, the one Austen uses for Elizabeth Bennet.
- LizaAn English short form that also doubles as the Russian pet form of Yelizaveta.
- ElizaThe first half of the name. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton went by Eliza.
- BethThe last syllable, simple and steady. Also used for Bethany.
- ElleA sleek modern option that takes just the opening sound.
Bess, Betty and Betsy
This branch starts with Bet and Bess, old short forms that picked up new endings over the centuries.
- BessA very old English short form, as in "Good Queen Bess" for Elizabeth I.
- BessieBess with an -ie ending. Cozy and old-fashioned.
- BetThe original clipped form behind Betty and Betsy. Rare today.
- BettyBet plus -y. Hugely popular as a stand-alone name in the 1920s and 30s.
- BetteA French-style spelling made famous by Bette Davis, born Ruth Elizabeth Davis.
- BetsyBet plus the -sy ending found in names like Patsy. Betsy Ross was an Elizabeth.
Soft and sweet: Libby, Elsie and Lilibet
Gentler forms that feel right on a little girl and still work on an adult.
- LibbyBuilt on the "lib" sound in the middle of Elizabeth. Bright and cheerful.
- EllieFrom the first syllable. Shared with Eleanor and Ellen, so it feels familiar.
- ElsieBegan in Scotland as a pet form of Elspeth, the Scottish Elizabeth.
- LilySometimes used as a nickname for Elizabeth, though it's also a name in its own right.
- LilibetWhat Elizabeth II called herself as a toddler. Her family kept using it.
- BuffyA playful American pet form with a preppy, mid-century feel.
From other languages
Elizabeth is used across Europe, and each language shortens it its own way.
- LisaA German and Scandinavian short form, long since a popular name on its own.
- LieselA German pet form of Elisabeth, also spelled Liesl.
- LisbethA Scandinavian and German contraction that keeps both ends of the name.
- LiseA French and Scandinavian short form, pronounced LEEZ.
- LisetteA French diminutive of Lise. Delicate and a little formal.
- BabetteA French pet form of Élisabeth (it's sometimes used for Barbara too).
- ElsaA German and Scandinavian short form of Elisabeth.
- EliseA French short form that has become a favorite in English as well.
- BettinaAn Italian and German diminutive of Elisabetta and Elisabeth.
- ElaOne of the common Polish short forms of Elżbieta.
- ElspethThe traditional Scottish form of Elizabeth, and the source of Elsie.
Choosing an Elizabeth nickname
- Pick the nickname you want early. Many Elizabeths end up as Liz by default, so if you'd rather hear Libby or Bess, use it from the start.
- Say it with the last name. Beth and Bess stand out in a long surname, while Eliza and Lisbeth balance a short one.
- Think about the whole life of the name: Lizzie on a toddler, Liz on a résumé and Betty on a grandmother are all the same Elizabeth.
- If the middle name starts with a vowel sound, check the initials and how the nickname runs into it before you commit.
Common questions
What is the most common nickname for Elizabeth?
Liz and Beth are the nicknames most people reach for first. Lizzie, Eliza and Betty are close behind, and Ellie and Libby have become popular for younger Elizabeths.
Why is Betsy a nickname for Elizabeth?
Betsy comes from Bet, an old short form of Elizabeth, plus the -sy ending English uses for pet names, the same ending you hear in Patsy.
Is Isabel a form of Elizabeth?
Yes. Isabel began as a medieval Spanish and Provençal form of Elizabeth, and Isabella grew from it. Today they're treated as separate names. See nicknames for Isabella.
What did Queen Elizabeth II's family call her?
Lilibet. It came from her own attempt at saying Elizabeth when she was very small, and it stayed with her among family for the rest of her life.